Embarked on yatra as we were not heard inside Parliament, says Rahul

Senior Congress leader said those in power were intimidated by the ‘strength’ and ‘truth’ of India on display during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and were now making excuses to stop it

Addressing a gathering at Nuh on the second day of the Haryana leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Thursday, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said they had to set out on this journey since they were not being heard inside Parliament.

He also accused the government of finding excuses to stop the Yatra.

Speaking at the historic Ghasera village, visited by Mahatama Gandhi on December 19, 1947, to convince the local Meo Muslim population to not migrate to Pakistan, Mr. Gandhi said Congress wanted to speak about the Rafale deal, demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax and the politics of hatred inside Parliament, but the mics were switched off and the cameras were turned towards the Speaker. “No one could hear anything. So we started the Yatra,” said Mr. Gandhi, in his 20-minute speech.

Touching upon the recent controversy over Union Health Minister’s letter to suspend the Yatra in view of the emerging COVID situation, Mr. Gandhi said that those in power were intimidated by the “strength” and “truth” of India on display during the Yatra and were now making excuses to stop it.

In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Gandhi, referring to the year-long farmers’ movement, said Mr. Modi could not face challenge and would just turn around and run away.

“Try to understand the character of Mr. Modi. As soon as someone stands up against him, be it the farmers, he turns around and runs away,” he quipped.

Mr. Gandhi added that the Rashtriya Swaymasevak Sangh spread hatred, but feared the people of this country, the poor, the farmers and the workers.